Double side ironer



June 4, 1935. F. J. COUCH DOUBLE SIDE IRONER Filed April 7, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN'VENTOR (aw-h June 4, 1935. F. J. COUCH DOUBLE sum IRONER File% April '7, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 rid INVENTOR m M/y o T MM J a 7 My m Cm ,1 Y 6 June 4, 1935. F. J. COUCH 2,003,993

DOUBLE 5 IDE IRONER Filed April '7, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR -/5/'/-e.s2f d (bar/z June 4, 1935. F. J. COUCH DOUBLE SIDE IRONER Filed April '7, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 [N VENTOR firran d f M June 4, 1935. F. J. COUCH 2,003,993

DOUBLE SIDE IRONER Filed April '7, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR fir/PJZ d (606/? A TORNE VJ June 4, 1935. J COUCH 2,003,993

DOUBLE SIDE IRONER I Filed April 7, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 11v VENTOR f r/256 J (aw/9 OR/VE K's Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES DOUBLE SIDE IRONER Forrest J. Couch,.Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 7, 1930, Serial N0. 442,125'

r 8 Claims.

My invention relates to ironing machines. It relates, particularly, to ironing machines adapted to be used in laundries for ironing flat work such as sheets, towels, or the like, and comprises a plurality of rolls cooperating with a plurality of steam chests together with suitable mechanism for feeding the material to be ironed between the rolls and chests in a. continuous line. 7

Heretofore, many fiat work ironing machines goods during one passage through the machine, the goods being passed through the machines twice to iron both sides thereof. The machines as previously constructed covered a large amount exposed and radiated great quantities of heat into the room causing discomfort to the operajusted individually; only natural circulation of air was provided to dry the goods; the rolls were so mounted that the entire weight .of, each roll work done by such a machine was slow and ineflicient.

The primary objects of my invention are, to iron both sides of the goods during. a single passage thereof through the machine;- to reduce radiation of heat from the machine; to provide improved means whereby the pressure between all of the rolls and their respective cooperating steam chests can be varied in unison independent of the operation of the machinegto provide imchest is free to individually adjust itself to its cooperating roll; to provide a. forced circulation' of air and a longitudinal conveyor for the goods within the machine to increase the drying properties of the machine; to so construct the machine that similar parts are interchangeable; to so mount the steam chests that the weight of one I i Y "spectto the longitudinal axis of the rolls; and

will tend to counter-balance the weight of the other; to provide an adjustment whereby each ing mechanism therefor; to provide a simple and efficient drive for'the rolls; and to arrange, the

have only been adapted to iron one side of the of floor space; the heated steamchests were had tobe lifted to make adjustments; and @the' ing detailed description and 'oneembodiment a machine constructed inaccordance with my'inchest may be set in exact parallel relation with its cooperating roll; to provide means fordis-"g connecting each roll individually from the drivmechanism'in a compact'form within a closed housing so as to occupy minimum floor space and be convenient to operate in'such'manner asto do efiicient work inthe shortest possible time and resulting in a strong,du'rable andrelatively inexpensive mechanism. 5

In accomplishing'the above objects, my invention contemplates the provision of a machine wherein three padded rolls are provided which cooperate with five steam chests together with suitable mechanism'for driving such rolls. However, the number of rolls-and chests may be varied without departing from the scope of my invention. The apparatus is" such that the preferred cycle of operation comprises first ironing V the front face of a piece of fiat work, then the back face and'finall'y the front face duringa single passage of the work through the machine. 'With the device disclosed by my invention, the front face is first ironed by being pressed against the smooth surface of a hot steam chest, the

back face is then ironed bybein'g pressed against the smooth surfaces of 'twohot steam chests successively and thenthe front faceis again ironed by being pressed against the smooth surfaces 'of two hot steam chests successively. Suitable 00-" operating mechanism forthe rolls and chests is also provided as will be hereinafter apparent.

'Various other objects and advantageous features of my invention maybe seen in the followthereof may be seen in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference'designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig.1 is a central vertical cross section through vention; Fig. 2'is an elevationo-f oneendof the same machine with the end of the housing removed; Fig. 3 is a plan view partly broken away;

Fig. 4 is an end View with' parts omitted showing the manner of mountingthe steam chest; Fig; 5 is an end View showing the air suction pipe con- 'nections; Fig.1 6 is an end view showing thesteam p ip e" connections; Fig. is an elevation showing the clutch connection for the ironing roll drives;

Fig .:8 is'a sectional view taken" on the' line 88'-' 'oflf'ig. 7, Fig. 9 is an elevation showing the means for adjusting the steam chests laterally with re- Fig; lois a sectional view taken on the line litl B i -a. a j

Referring to thedrawingathe frame of a machine constructed in accordance with my inven- "tion consists of a right handside frame I l, a left hand side frame l 2, and longitudinal end frames, N

l3 and I4 rigidly'c'onnecting the side frames together.

As shown, three padded rolls I5, I6 and I 1 preferably of the same diameter, are rotatably mounted and extend parallel to each other between the end frames II and I2, the roll I5 being located directly above the roll I1 and the roll I6 being located a short distance to the rear of and equi-distant from the rolls I5 and I1. Such rolls are rigidly mounted on shafts I8 projecting beyond the ends thereof and mounted in suitable bearings (notshown) onthe frames II and I2. Adjacent the frame I2, the shafts I8 are operatively connected at one of their ends to sprocket wheels I9, as shown in Fig.-2;by means of a clutch mechanism illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 and comprising a spring pressed pin 28 mounted to slide in a suitable-socket 2I provided in each sprocket wheel I9 and so arranged that its end will register with and slide, into any one of four holes or openings 22 in a radial flange or hub 23 keyed to each shaft I8. Thus, when the spring pressed pin 20 is within one of the holes or openings 22, the shaft I8 is operatively engaged with the sprocket wheel adjacent thereto and will be rotated in unison therewith. 7

When it is desired to disconnect the shaft I8 and the roll carried thereby. from the. sprocket wheel adjacent that particular shaft, it is only necessary to withdraw the spring pressed pin 28 from its cooperating hole or opening 22 against the resistance of the spring 24:.and to retain the pin 28 in its retracted position, each pin is provided with an integral elongated extension 25 which, when the pin is partly rotated about its longitudinal axis, will come to rest in a notch 26 provided in a raised portion 21 integral with the sprocket wheel I9. To again clutch the shaft I8 to the sprocket wheel I9, the pin28 may be. further drawn longitudinally into the socket and turned so that the extension. 25 will clear the groove 26 whereupon the pin. will be pushed longitudinally in the opposite direction by the spring 24 and will engage the first hole or opening 22 in the radial flange or hub 23 on the shaft I8 with which it co-acts, thereby locking the shaft and sprocket together.

Secured to the frame members of the machine in such position as to cover the working parts thereof is a. suitable housing 28 and back of the housing a motor 29 is mounted, preferably on the floor, which has a sprocket. 30 rigidly mounted on the drive shaft 3| thereof. A system or reduction gearing is mounted within the housing 28 and consists of a large sprocket 32 mounted to rotate with a small gear 33 that meshes with a large gear 34 adapted to rotate with a small sprocket 35, the small sprocket 35 being connected by an endless chain 36 to the sprocket wheels I9 and the motor sprocket 38 being connected by a sprocket chain 3'! with the large sprocket wheel 32 whereby the rolls I5, I5 and II may be rotated in unison in the proper direction and at a reduced speed with relation to the speed of the motor 29.

The direction of travel and the path of the sprocket chain 35 is from the small sprocket 35 about the adjustable idler or tightener 38, idler 39, about the first sprocket wheel I9 clockwise, the second sprocket wheel I9 counter-clockwise, about the remaining sprocket wheel I9 clockwise, and thence about the idler sprocket 40 to the sprocket 35. Such sprocket 40 is rigidly mounted on a shaft 4| which extends substantially from one side of the machine to the other and is mounted in suitable bearings (not shown) vprovided in the side frames II and I2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4 ofthe drawings,-

large steam chests 42, 43 and 44 are disposed beneath the rolls I5, I5 and I1, respectively, the sides of the chests toward the rolls being made concave to conform with the contour of the outer surface of the padding on the rolls and the ends of the chests extending a short distance beyond the ends of the rolls where they are flexibly connected to suitable rock arms 45, 45 and 41 by means of.which each steam chest is moved towards and away from its cooperating roll as desired and by means of which the chests are moved out of contact with the rolls when the machine is notin operation. The respective rock arms are provided at each end of the machine. As shown in Fig. 4, the rock arms 45 and 45 carry "and are-adapted to press two small steam chests '48 and 49 against the upper side of the rolls I5 and II respectively or to move such chests away from the respective rolls.

The three large chests 42, 43 and 44 are similarly connected at each of their ends to the respective pairsof rock arms 45, 46 and 41,..and, therefore, only one such connection need be described. Each connection consists of bolts 50 .extending through lugs 5| on the steam chest and thence upwardly through .the cooperating rock arm, the threaded ends of such bolts being provided with nuts 52 that bear against resilient members or compression springs 53 disposed between the undersurface of each nut and the upper. surface of .the rock arm and surrounding the bolts 50. Thesesprings are of the expanding type and provide a means for effecting a stiff yielding upward pull on the steam chest.

About midway between the two bolts 50 that are provided at each end of each chest, each rock arm is provided with an arcuate guide surface 54 struck from the center about which the rock arm is pivoted and arranged to slide on a friction block'55 which is pivotally mounted on eccentric pin' 56v anchored in a boss on the chest as shown in Figs. 9. and 10. The chest is free to rock about. the pin 56 as a pivot to adjust itself to thesurface of its cooperating'roll while still being tightly. pressed against the roll when the rock arm is moved about its pivot in the proper direction and will be'directed toward and from the roll in a substantially straight line at all times. Further, the longitudinal axis of the chest can be shifted laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the roll with which it cooperates by turning'the eccentric pin in its socket. A set screw 51 is provided to anchor the eccentric pin 55 in' its adjusted position in the chest.

' The two small steam chests 48 and 49 being dis-- posed above the respective rock arms 45 and 46, their weight exerts more than the desired amount of pressure against. the respective rolls. Therefore, springs 58 are interposedbetween the uppersurfaces of .the rock armsand the lower surfaces of lugs 59 that extend outwardly from'the ends of. the chests, the lugs being provided with suitable sockets that serve as guides for the uppermost ends of the springs 58. Follower blocks 60 are disposed within the sockets in the lugs 59 was to bear against the upper ends of the springs;58 and .be movable within the sockets. Set screws 5| are provided in order that the follower blocks..may be movedupwardly or downiwardly to vary the compression of the springs. 58

and thereby vary the pressure exerted on the respective. rolls. by the small steam chests 48 and '49. Similar to the construction described in connection with the supporting means for the steam chests 42, 43. and .44, the. rock arm is providedand when the smalls'portionof the camcontacts with an arcuateguiding surface 54; struck from the center about which the rockarm ispivoted,

and. a friction block which is arranged -to slide on the guide .surface and which is pivotally mounted on an eccentric pin as hereinbefore. described and as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, so that the chests 48 and 49 will be free torock about the eccentric pin as a pivot to adjust themselves tothe surfaces of the rolls while pressing tightly against the rolls when the rock arms are moved abouttheir pivots and the longitudinal axes of .-.otally mounted between the rolls l5 and I6 on.. stub shafts 62 whereby movement of the rock arms in either direction about their pivots 62 will move the. chests 42 and 48 either into or out of engagement with the rolls l5 and I6 simultaneously. As shown in Fig. 4, the ends of the arms 45 that support the large steam chest 42 I have a downwardly extending portion 63 at their forwardmost ends which carries roller elements .64 adapted to ride upon a cam. 55 mounted on a shaft 66 that is journalled in the side frames II and I2.

Adjacent the frame I I, the shaft 66 is provided with a worm gear 6'. adapted to mesh with a worm 68 driven by a gear 69 meshing with a gear 10 mounted on a shaft H and adapted to bedriven by a sprocket and chain connection with a motor 12. This structure is clearly shown in Fig. 5. The motor 12 is preferably. of the reversible type with the proper control mechanism therefor, whereby the shaft 45 carrying the cam 65 may be caused to rotate in either direction and the cam 65 likewise rotated. Movement of the cam 65 is I effected independently of the operation of the remainder of the machine due to the fact that a separate mechanism and power unit are used.

With this construction, when the large part of the cam 65 engages the rollers 64 on the forwardmost end of the rock arms 45,. the forwardmost ends of the rock arms carrying the chest 42 will be moved upwardly and the opposing ends of therock arms carrying the small chest 48 will be H on the stub shafts I3 and the ends of the rock arms on which the small chest 49 ismounted have upwardly extending portions carrying rollers "that are adapted to ride upon a cam '55 likewise rigidly mounted on the shaft 6%: and driven by the same motor 12 and cooperating mechanism hereinbefore described. However, the cam 15 is oppositely disposed relative to the cam 65 whereby the larger portion of the cam 15 extends downwardly and the largerv portion of the cam 65 extends upwardly. Thus, when the large part of the cam 15 is in its extreme downwardmost position the small chest 49 has been moved downwardly into cooperative relation with the roll Hand the large chest has been moved upwardlyinto cooperative relation with the roll I6 with the roller 14 the respective chests-have been :mov'ed out of cooperative relationlwith the. rolls.

- As will 'be seen in Fig. '4, the lower .rock arms 41 are pivotally. mounted at one .end thereof on the stub shafts16 immediately below the stub shafts .73, the stub shafts 62 and and lfi'being disposedin the same vertical line whereby the relative positions of the arms :41 to the roll I! may be identical with the. relative positions ,of'. the forwardmost ends of the arms 45 supporting the large chest 42. The forwardmost ends of the arms have downwardly inclined portions 11 which are connected by meansof links 18 with the downwardly extending portions 63 of the arms 45. Thus, upward movement, of the forwardmost ends of the arms 45 to move the chest 42 into cooperative relation with the roll l5 causes simultaneous upward movement of the arms 41 to move the chest 44 into cooperative relation with the roll I! and, since the arms are each moved simultaneously by the cams 65 and 15 that are rigidly mounted on the same shaft, it will be apparent that all of the steam chests will be moved toward and away from their cooperating rolls in unison. The weight of the two chests 42 and 44 being greater than the weight of the chest 48, the rollers 64 will always be held in contact with the cam 65 and, likewise, the weight of the chest 43 being greater than the weight of the chest 49 the rollers 74 will always be held in contact with the cam 15.

When the machine is assembled and the springs supporting the respective chests are so regulated or adjusted that each chest is pressing against its cooperating roll at a predetermined pressure, slightly greater, preferably, than the highest pressure ever required when the larger part of the cams B5 and 15 are contacting with the rollers 64 and 14, the position of the camshaft 66 and the resultant position of the cams 65 and 15 determines what pressure is exerted between the respective chests and the respective rolls. -To

enable the operator to observe and to adjust the position of the cam shaft 66 and cams carried thereby, an indicator [9 and a dial 19' graduated to indicate the pressure exerted by the chests on the rolls in certain positions of the-cam shaft and cams are provided as shown in Fig. 2, the indicator hand being adapted to be moved in unison with the cam shaft 66 by means of a suitable chain and sprocket connection 80. One end of the shaft H see Fig. 5, extends beyond the housing at the front side of the machine and is provided with a square portion so that it may be turned manually to rotate the cam shaft 66 and the cams carried thereby to the proper position to securethe desired pressure between all of the respective chests and their cooperating rolls.

With my invention the conventional system of tapes and ribbons is employed to carry and guide the material through themachine. As shown, the endless tapes 8| pass around the roll l5, thence vover the rear end'of the chest 42, thence. under chest 48, thence around the spring pressed spools or tighteners 82 and back to and around'the roll 45. Also, the endless tapes 83 pass around the roll I6- thence over the forward end of the chest 43, thence under the chest 49, thence around the spring pressed spools or tighteners 84 and back around the roll l6. The tapes 85 pass around the roll 11, thence. over'the rear endof the chest 44, thence under therod 86, thence on an incline out of'the machine housingand upwardly aroundthe spring pressed spools 'or tighteners 81, thencedown'an incline .and underra rod: 88 and thence backaround. the roll- I1.

.An inclined feed table 89 is supported by brackets 90 secured to the end. frames of the machine and at the forwardmost end thereof which is in front of the roll I5. A rod 9| extends transversely of the machine and entirely across the face of the roll I5and its ends are secured in the frames II and I2. A driving roller 92 that is rotatably mounted at the lower forwardmost end of the feed table extends the fullwidth of the feed tableand suitable endless feed ribbons 93.pass upwardly from the feed table, around the transverse rod 9I downwardly under the feed table and thence around the driving roller 92 and upwardly over the feed table again.

The driving roller 92 is mounted on a shaft supported in adjustable bearings secured in the brackets and one end of such shaft is provided with a sprocket 94 as shown in Fig. 2 connected by a sprocket chain 95 to one sprocket 96 secured on a shaft 91 mounted in bearings on the end frame I2. Each sprocket 96 and shaft '91, is, in'turn, driven by a sprocket chain 98 passing around a sprocket 99 on the shaft I8 which supports the roll I 6 and is adapted to be rotated therewith. With this construction, said ribbons 93 will travel along the feed board 89 in substantially the same rate of speed at which the periphery of the roll I6 travels and, since the rolls travel at the same rate of speed due to the driving. connection therebetween, the feed ribbons 93 travel at substantially the same rate of speed as the periphery of all of the feed rolls.

To insure the proper passing of the material fed to the machine in a flat condition between the chest 42 and the roll I5, a set of endless tapes or feed belts I are provided above the upper part of the feed table 89, these tapes passing upwardly along the table, thence upwardly above the spring pressed spools or tighteners lIlI, thence forwardly above the feed table and about a trip roller I02 and thence back to the starting point and upwardly again along the feed table 89.

The trip roller I02 is mounted to rotate in the free ends of links I03 having their other ends pivoted in the free ends of arms I04 rigidly fixed on a rock shaft I 05 which is loosely pivoted in the end frames I I and I2. A short crank arm I06 is rigidly mounted on the rock shaft I05 the crank arm having its free end connected by a link I01 to the operating arm of an electric-switch structure I09 connected in the circuit that supplies power for operating the motor 29 to actuate the machine. With this construction, when the trip roller I02 is moved about the shaft I05 as a pivot either manually or by articles to be ironed pressing against it, the power supply to the motor 29 will be shut off and the machine will stop operating due to the fact that a contact in the switch structure I08 will be broken. However, when the obstruction is removed from under the trip roller I02 or when no manual force isexerted thereon such'roller will fall by gravity towards the feed table 89 to again cause contact to be made in the switch I08 and thereby cause operation of the motor 29.

Brackets I09 extend outwardly from the opposite or delivery side of the machine and carry an inclined delivery ribbon bracket I I0 at the extreme rear edge of which is mounted a rod I II that is secured in brackets provided therefor. Endless delivery ribbons I I2 pass upwardly along the inclined delivery ribbon bracket II0, thence 'around the rod -II-I, thencedownwardly-along 43 and 44.

the inclined bracket into the housing of the ma.-

chine and thence upwardly around a drivingroll I I3and again upwardly along the surface of the bracket I I0.

Such driving roll H3 is rigidly mounted on the shaft M which is driven by. the

chain 36 at :such speed as to cause the delivery ribbons II2 to travel at approximately the same speed as the periphery of the ironing rolls I5, I6 and I1 and it will be noted that the major portion of the delivery ribbons I I2 is disposed within the:

housing where the air is at a relatively high temand pass with the same back into the machine.

To prevent such non-delivery of the goods, a series of guides or stripper bars II4 are provided between the respective delivery ribbons I I2 adjacent the rod- I I I, these guides or stripper barsbeing secured to the upper edge of the delivery table H0 and so arranged as to separate the goods from the ribbons as the ribbons pass downwardly around the rod I I I whereby the goods may fall by gravity upon a suitable table or into a suitable receptacle. The delivery table H0 is preferably made adjustable towards and away from the driving roll I I3-so as to enable tightening or loosening of the delivery ribbons I I2 as desired.

To insure that the goods fed to the machine follows the proper course through the machine, suitable guides I I5 preferably of sheet metal are provided at the upper rear edge of chest 43 and the upper front edge of chest 44 and are held in proper position by brackets secured to the chests Also, the rolls I5, I6 and I! are of hollow construction to carry away' the moisture passing from the goods being ironed through the padding and through perforations in the surface of the rolls to the interior thereof and one end of each roll has its shaft provided with-a central bore or hole forming communication between the interior of the roll and a suction pipe I I 6, see Fig.5, connected to the ends of the shafts by means ofswivel joints-and leading to the suction end of a fan II! which is driven by amotor I I8. Such moisture may be, inturn, delivered to the exterior of the machine or some other suitable point by the fan I I1. A hood I I9 within the housing 28 is connected to the suction pipe I I6 by suitable conduits whereby the heat and moisture communicating with hood' I I9 may be drawn out of the housing and delivered to the'atmosphere or some other desired point by the fan I I1.

In-an ironing machine of this type it is necessary to provide a means for injecting steam into the chests of the machine. In this apparatus a'main steam supply pipe I20, see Fig. 6, leads from a suitable source ofsupply and branches IfiI lead from the main supply pipe to the steam chests,- 43,-44, 48, and 49. Such branches I2I are so arranged that the moisture from the condensation taking place within the steam chests will drain to the main supply pipe I and a portion of each branch is made flexible to permit free movement of the chests with relation to the rolls.

In the operation of this device, assuming that the'material to be ironed is fed to the machine" with the normal upper side thereof upwardly, the material is first spread upon the moving feeding ribbons ortapes93 bywhich it is carried between the feed ribbons 93 and tapes I00, thence downwardly betweenthe roll I5 and thesteam chest-42 3 whereby it is ironed on the'lower side thereof sihce-'the lower'side of the material contacts with the steam chest 42; I theme the materialpasses successively betwee'nthe roll l5 and the small chest-4's and between the roll 16 and the large chest-"43 whereby the upperside is ironed since that'side contacts withthe' 'chests 4B and by theheatwithinthe housing 28 and is then delivered outside of the machine and onto the" delivery table I m, I

'Fi'om'the preceding description, it will be seen that I have provided a device wherein material fed to the-machine is first ironed on the lower side thereof by one chest and roll, ironed on the upper side bytwo chests cooperating with a single roll, and finally ironed again on the'lower'side by twochests cooperating with a single roll. Such system'ofironing has been found-to beadvan ta'geous in that both sides 'of the goods are ironed in one passage through 'the machine whereby handlingof the "goods more 'thanonce is eliminated. Another 'a'dvantageous 'feature resides in 'the fact that 'the'pressure of each'steam chest againstits cooperating mu can be individually adjusted and, when once properly'adjusted the pressurepf all jchests against their cooperating rolls can be varied as desired acc'uratelyand simultaneously. V

Still another advantageous "feature resides in the factthat the temperature of all'the chests can be accuratelycontrolled as well as the tem* perature within {and around the machinel A further advantageous feature resides in the fact that ,the machine is ,relatively simple and compact requiring but" a'minimum floor space while making possible maximum production.

What I claim is:

1. An ironing machine comprising, a frame, a pair of vertically spaced rotatable padded rolls, a rotatable padded roll spaced laterally and substantially equidistantly from said first named rolls and having a diameter greater than the spaces between said rolls, an ironing chest having an ironing face extending from one side and substantially the level of the'horizontal axis of the upper roll, underneath the same and to a point adjacent the top side of the roll spaced laterally therefrom, an ironing chest having an ironing face engaging the top side of the laterally spaced roll, and a single supporting means for said two ironing members including a member pivotally mounted intermediate said ironing members with the ironing members so disposed thereon relative to the pivot thereof that the weight of one chest tends to counter-balance the weight of the other.

2. An ironing machine comprising, a frame, a pair of vertically spaced rotatable padded rolls, a rotatable padded roll spaced laterally and substantially equidistantly from said first named rolls and having a diameter greater than the spaces between said rolls, an ironing chest having an ironing face extending from one side and substantially the level of the horizontal axis of the upper roll, underneath the same and to a point adjacent the top side of the roll spaced laterally therefrom, an ironing chest having an ironing face engaging the top side of the laterally spaced roll, a single supporting means for said two' ironingmembers including a member piv- 'otally"mounted-intermediate said ironing memhers with the ironing members so disposed thereon relative tothe pivot thereof that the weight of one chest tends to counter-balance the weight of the other, and means for moving said supporting member about its pivot to bring the ironing members carried thereby into engagement their respective rolls inunison.

3. An ironing machine comprising, pair of vertically spaced'rotatable padded rolls, a rotatable'pa'dded roll spaced laterally and-substantially equidistantly fromsaid first named rolls andhaving'adiameter greater than the "spaces between said rolls, an ironing chest havwith a frame, a

ing an ironing face extending from one side and substantially the level of the horizontal axis of the pers-e11, underneath the same and to'a pointadjacent' the top side of the roll spaced laterally therefrom,'an ironing chest having an ironing face engaging the topside of the laterally spaced roll, anda single supporting means for said two ironing'members including a supporting member pivotally mounted intermediate said ironing 'r'nembers with the ironing members so disposed thereon relative to the pivot thereof that the weight, of one chesttends to counter-balance the weight ofthe other, an ironingchest having an ironing face extending'from' one side and substantiallyfthe level of the horizontal'axis of" the I laterally spaced roll, underneath the same and to a point adjacent the top side of the lower vertically spaced roll, an ironing chest having an ironing face engaging the top side of the lower vertically spaced roll, all of said ironing mem bers being arranged toprovide for continuous passage of work'from' the upper vertically spaced roll, around the laterally spaced roll, and to and around the lower {vertically spaced roll, and a single'su'pportingmeans for said last twov ironing membersincluding a supportingmember pivotallymounted intermediate such ironing members with the ironing members so disposed relative to the pivot thereof that the weight of one chest tends to counter-balance the weight of the other.

4. An ironing machine comprising, a frame, a pair of vertically spaced rotatable padded rolls, a rotatable padded roll spaced laterally and substantially equidistantly from said first named rolls and having a diameter greater than the spaces between said rolls, an ironing chest having an ironing face extending from one side and sub stantially the level of the horizontal axis of the upper roll, underneath the same and to a point adjacent the top side of the roll spaced laterally therefrom, an ironing chest having an ironing face engaging the top side of the laterally spaced roll, a single supporting means for said two iron ing members including a supporting member pivotally mounted intermediate said ironing members with the ironing members so disposed thereon relative to the pivot thereof that the weight of one chest tends to counter-balance the weight of the other, an ironing chest having an ironing face extending from one side and substantially the level of the horizontal axis of the laterally spaced roll, underneath the same and to a point adjacent the top side of the lower vertically spaced roll, an ironing chest having an ironing face engaging the top side of the lower vertically spaced roll, all of said ironing members single supporting means for said last two ironing members including a supporting member pivotal 1y mounted intermediate such ironing members with the ironing members sodisposed relative to the pivot thereof that the weight of one chest tends to counter-balance the weight of the other; and means for moving said two supporting members simultaneously and in unison to bring the ironing members into ironing relation with the rolls.

5. In an ironing machine,-a frame, a pair of substantially vertically spaced padded rolls rotatably mounted in said frame, a padded roll spaced laterally and substantially equi-distantly from both said vertically spaced rolls, said laterally spaced roll having a diameter greater than the space between said first named rolls, an ironingchest having an ironing face extending from the forward side and substantially the level of the horizontal axis of the upper vertically r spaced roll, underneath the same and to apoint adjacent the top forward-side of the laterallyspaced roll, ironing chest means having ironing faces engaging the major portion of the laterally spaced roll and extending over the top,

around a portion of the rearward side and vunderneath the same to a point near the top rearward side of the lower vertical roll, ironing chest means having ironing faces engaging the major portion ofthe lower vertical roll and extending to the rear thereof, stripping and feeding means for stripping and feeding the work through the machine, feed means-for feeding the workto the bite between theupper roll and the upper the rear portion of the lower ironing, chest of.

the lower vertical roll.

6. In an ironing machine, the combination of two pressing elements, one of which is located below and to one side of the other, a lever pivotally supported intermediate the two elements,

two pressing members adapted to coact withsaid elements, ,said members. being carried.by-

said lever, one on each side of :said pivotal sup port and arranged'so that one =member moves upwardly intoengagement with the upper ele-' ment asthe other member-moves downwardly into engagement with-the lower element, cammeans contacting the lever for adjusting the'position of the lever about its pivot, and the weight of the members being so arranged on the lever that one preponderates over the other in adirection' tohold saidxlever inecontact with the cam" means.

7. In an ironing 'machine, a paddedroll, asupporting member pivotally mounted for move ment toward and from the peripheryof the roll,

an ironing chest yieldingly mounted upon said supporting member, coacting ,cam members one are brought into engagement, one of-said .cam

membersibeing rigid with the supporting mem-- her and having an arcuate surface concentric with the pivot, and theother ofsaid cam membersbeing a block carried by thechest.

8. In an ironingemachine, a padded roll, a suppositioning the chest with respect .to the roll, one of said cam members being rigid with said supporting member and having an arcuate surface concentric with the pivot, the other of said cam membersbeingwa blockadapted to coast with said .arcuate surface, said block beingirotatably mounted on aneccentric pin and said pin being rotatably carried by said chest.

FORREST .J. COUCHQ 

